Get Started with YouTube's Promoted Videos

YouTube recently made some changes to its Promoted Video program, so this seems like a good time to explain how to get started with it. Promoted Videos, if you haven't heard of it, is a way to buy exposure for your video on YouTube. It's related to Google AdWords: you bid against search terms so that your videos show up when appropriate terms are searched. You can control how much you'll spend, so you don't need to worry about it breaking your budget.

As for those changes, Promoted Videos listings can now show up on Google Video searches, as well as YouTube searches. This applies to U.S. search results only. It sounds like a big win, because it opens promoted videos up to a new audience. A lot of people prefer to search Google Video instead of YouTube, because it includes all the YouTube listings, plus other videos around the Web. Advertisers will need to opt in to Search Partners in their account to get this going.

YouTube Promoted Videos will also soon show up on YouTube Mobile. This is another win, since video-viewing on mobile devices is way up. This change helps you get your videos in front of a younger, more connected audience.

Finally, YouTube has changed Promoted Videos' pricing from cost-per-click to cost-per-view. It's the views that matter, and this lets you only pay when people watch your video.

To get started with YouTube Promoted Videos, visit YouTube's advertising page. YouTube has made it a simple three step process: first, create and post your video. Write a description and choose a thumbnail image likely to pull in viewers. Next, create list of search terms that should prompt your video. Decide on you budget and how many views you're willing to buy. Finally, study the results and decide which pull in the most viewers. You're free to adjust your search terms at any time.

That's all there is to it. Get started with YouTube's Promoted Videos and see if it gives a needed lift to your business.

Troy Dreier's article first appeared on OnlineVideo.net